Unai Emery has built a side with high standards and a squad with depth – they’ll need both in the coming weeksSign up for Soccer with Jonathan Wilson here Most teams in the battle for Champions League qualification are staggering to the line, battered, exhausted, done in by a season that feels like it finished in February but somehow still has a month to run. But as they falter, Aston Villa have seemingly found another gear. Liverpool are secure in the Champions League qualification slots and Arsenal soon will be, which leaves the remaining three places between five contenders who are separated by just two points, although Nottingham Forest face Tottenham on Monday. Forest, though, have won just three of their last eight in the league. Newcastle had won six in a row in all competitions before Saturday’s 4-1 defeat to Villa. Manchester City are unbeaten in five in the league. Chelsea have won five of their last 11 in the league and have a notably tough run-in. But Villa have won 10 of 11 in all competitions, the only blip their Champions League defeat away to Paris Saint-Germain. There is no question that they are the side in form. This is an extract from Soccer with Jonathan Wilson, a weekly look from the Guardian US at the game in Europe and beyond. Subscribe for free here. Have a question for Jonathan? Email soccerwithjw@theguardian.com, and he’ll answer the best in a future edition. Continue reading...

Southampton v Aston Villa, plus EFL and BundesligaLive scoreboard | And you can contact Dom on email Other full-time scores from the early games: Manchester City 5-2 Crystal Palace Celtic 5-1 Kilmarnock Leeds 2-1 Preston Plymouth 2-1 Sheffield United Continue reading...

Anthony Elanga opens up about life at Nottingham Forest and that goal against Man Utd.

Nottingham Forest winger Anthony Elanga credits Arsenal legend Thierry Henry for the improvements in his game.

Dion Dublin speaks with winger Anthony Elanga to discuss Nottingham Forest boss Nuno Espirito Santo and how he has got them "chasing greatness" this season.

Minute-by-minute updates of the 8pm BST kick-offPremier League table and top scorers | Football DailyGet in touch! Email michael.butler@theguardian.com We’re off in the East Midlands. A penny for the thoughts of Steve Cooper. “It’s a 5am kick-off time here in Oz for the Islam Slimani Derby,” writes Chris Paraskevas. “I remember his heavily artistic interpretation of a ‘loan move’ to NUFC from Leicester some years back under Benitez, complete with red card and absolutely eff all else?” Continue reading...

Nottingham Forest manager Nuno Espirito Santo says a "very bad" start cost his side as they fell two goals down after only 15 minutes of their 2-1 defeat at Aston Villa.

Before Nottingham Forest host Manchester United on Tuesday, BBC Sport speak to Serbia defender Nikola Milenkovic and his idol Nemanja Vidic.

Striker suffers injury in FA Cup win over BournemouthCity expect Haaland to be fit for Club World Cup Manchester City expect Erling Haaland to play again this season despite their top-scorer suffering a serious ankle injury in Sunday’s FA Cup 2-1 win at Bournemouth that requires “specialist consultation” to determine the extent of his layoff. Haaland was forced off after 61 minutes at the Vitality Stadium, being replaced by Omar Marmoush. While the Egyptian scored the winner that took City into a Cup semi-final against Nottingham Forest, Haaland’s availability for the tie, which will be played on either 26 or 27 April, is in the balance. Continue reading...

Nottingham Forest striker Chris Wood is "improving" from a hip injury, but remains a doubt for Manchester United's visit to the City Ground on Tuesday.

The FA Cup "seems to have its sparkle back" - but will Manchester City stop there being a "fairytale ending" for Aston Villa, Crystal Palace or Nottingham Forest?

City into FA Cup semi-final after 2-1 victory‘We talked a lot about the game we lost here’ Pep Guardiola said Manchester City had recovered some of their missing heart and soul as they advanced to a seventh FA Cup semi-final in a row with a 2-1 win at Bournemouth. The City manager, whose team have been drawn to face Nottingham Forest, relied on what he called his “legendary” players – Kevin De Bruyne, Bernardo Silva and Ilkay Gündogan – in his side’s win on the south coast. Continue reading...

Manchester City keep their trophy hopes for this season alive by coming from behind at Bournemouth to set up an FA Cup semi-final against Nottingham Forest.

FA Cup quarter-final news from the 5.15pm GMT kick-offLive scores | Fulham 0-3 Crystal Palace | And email Scott “And Smith must score!” Brighton & Hove Albion dream of putting an end to 42 years of Peter-Jones-soundtracked yearning. So near and yet so far away from a first FA Cup. Nottingham Forest have won the thing before, of course, but you’d have to be of stately vintage to have witnessed the last time they did so, in 1959, Elton John’s cousin and all that, and there are even a couple of generations who’ll be too young to have seen Brian Clough’s close call of 1991. Both teams desperate, then. Both teams believing. Both teams certainly good enough to lift the old pot come May. But only one will remain standing by the end of the night, which could stretch as far as extra time and penalties if needs be. Kick-off is at 5.15pm. It’s on! Continue reading...